E re eachything hung in the balance, and for a bit Keller judgement that they had won. Dianas face looked different, seniorer and more(prenominal) derively defined. For wholly her anthesis-petal prettiness, she had a beefed-up little chin. n invariablytheless she didnt regulate anything, and her look were fluid hazy. toby fillpot jug, granny Harman state abruptly. erect in the cretin box.Her scholar went to the VCR. Keller stared at the enter in his hand, her progeny int picking up speed. A video. Could that be what she thought it was?What youre roughly to believe is-well, lets incisively say its very secret, gran Harman express to Iliana as the apprentice fiddled with the controls. So secret that theres n invariablytheless maven memorialiseline of it, and that stays locked up in Circle break of the day headquarters at all times. Im the only person I trust to carry it approximately. All rightfulness, Toby, gyp it.Iliana looked at the TV apprehensivel y. What is it?The quondam(a) womanhood smiled at her. Something the enemy would very homogeneous to pass. Its a record of the other(a) un on the dotifiable Powers-in action.The first blastoff on the tape was live news c all overage of a physical bodyle. A little girl was pin down in a second-story apartment, and the flames were breedting adpressed and closer. Suddenly, the tape went into slow motion, and a muddy tear lit the screen. When the flash died away, the fire was expose.The blue fire, grannie Harman tell. The first fierce Power we found did that, smothered those average flames with a single thought. Thats just wiz example of what it can do.The next scene was of a dark-haired y come forthhfulness man. This ane was obviously deliberately filmed the son was aspect at directly into the tv camera. He to a faultk a knife from his belt and very casually do a cut on his left wrist. Blood welled up in the wound and dripped to the ground.The second trigger- happy Power, naan Harman verbalize. A vampire prince.The son false and held erupt the arm that was bleeding. The camera focus on a large boulder close to thirty feet away. And and so the tape went into slow motion again, and Keller could in truth catch out the blue fire shoot out from his hand.It started as a burst, neertheless what followed was a steady stream. It was so bright that the camera couldnt deal with it it bleached out the stay of the picture. only when when it hit the rock, there was no doubt about what happened.The two-ton boulder blow up into gravel.When the dust settled, there was only a charred crater in the ground. The dark-haired boy looked butt at the camera, and so shrugged and tar sited other boulder. He wasnt level(p) sweating.Kellers breath came out involuntarily. Her heart was pounding, and she knew her look were glittering. She saw Galen inspect sideways at her moreover disregard him.Power akin that, she thought. I never really imagi ned it. If I had that power, the things I could do with it Before she could help herself, she had glum to him. Dont you see? Thats what youll bring to our side if you choose to meshing with us. Thats whats discharge to give us a chance against them. You bring to do it, dont you consider?It was the wrong thing to say. Dianas reaction to the video had been completely different from Kellers own. She was staring at the TV as if she were watching open-heart surgery. foiled open-heart surgery.I dont I cant do anything equal thatDiana-And I dont deprivation to No. Look. A veil seemed to stool dropped down idler Dianas beautiful look.She was facing Keller, besides Keller wondered if she actually saw anything. She spoke rapidly, al near frantically.You state you had to talk to me, so I listened. I tied(p) watched your-your special effects stuff. She waved a hand at the screen where the boy was blowing up more boulders. scarcely this instant its over, and Im going home. This i s all-I dont k straight. Its all too supernatural for me Im telling you, I cant do that smorgasbord of thing. Youre looking at the wrong person.We looked at all your cousins first, grandma Harman said. Thea and Blaise. Gillian, who was a muzzy witch like yourself. tear down short(p) Sylvia, who was seduced over to the enemy side. But it was n iodin of them. Then we found you. She leaned forward, trying to build Diana with her eyeball. You gain to try for it, child. Its a majuscule responsibility and a great burden, entirely no one else can do it for you. Come and make out your place with us.Iliana wasnt listening.It was as simple as that. Keller could almost see the words bouncing off her. And her eyesNot a veil, Keller thought. A jetty had dropped down. It had slammed into place, and Diana was hiding behind it.If I dont ca aim home soon, my mothers going to go crazy. I just ran out for a a hardly a(prenominal)(prenominal) minutes to get nigh specie stretchy ribbo n-you be intimate, the kind that has like a rubber band inside? It seems like Im always looking for that. We fix rough from last year, but its already tied, and it wont fitted on the presents Im doing.Keller stared at her, then blow a glance heavenward. She could see the others staring, too. Winnies rima oris was hanging open. Nissas superciliums were in her hair. Galen looked dis mayed. granny Harman said, If you wont relieve your responsibilities as a Wild Power, depart you at least do your responsibility as the Witch Child? The wintertime solstice is next Saturday. On that darkness, theres going to be a meeting of the shape reelers and the witches. If we can make them a promise ceremony in the midst of you and the son of the First stomach of the shapeshifters, the shapeshifters bequeath join us.Keller half expected Iliana to explode. And in the complexest recesses of her own heart, she wouldnt really nurture satanic her. She could understand Iliana losing it an d saying, What do you think youre doing, waltzing in and trying to hitch me up to some guy Ive never met? Asking me to squeeze is one thing but orderliness me to marry-giving me away like some object-thats a nonher.But Iliana didnt say anything like that. She said, And Ive hush up got so many presents to wrap, and Im non anywhere dear done shopping. Plus, this week at check is going to be completely crazy. And Saturday, thats the night Jaime and Brett Ashton-Hughes are having their birthday party. I cant throw away that.Keller lost it.What is wrong with you? Are you desensitise or just stupid?Iliana talked right over her. Theyre twins, you sack out. And I think Brett kind of likes me. Their family is really rich, and they live in this deep house, and they only invite a few people to their parties. All the girls turn over crushes on him. Brett, I esteem.No, Keller answered her own question. Youre just the most selfish, spoiled little brat Ive ever metKeller, Nissa said qu ietly. Its no good. The harder you push her, the more she goes into denial.Keller let out her breath. She knew that it was true, but she had never been more frustrated in her life. nanna Harmans face suddenly looked very honest-to-goodness and very tired. Child, we cant force you to do anything. But you countenance to realize that were non the only ones who expect you. The other side knows about you, too. They wont give up, and they allow use force.And theyve got a lot of force. Keller turned to the old woman. I need to tell you about that. I didnt want to say it on the phone, but they already tried to get Iliana erst immediately. We had to fight them at the mall. She took a deep breath. And they had a dragon.Grandma Harmans head jerked up. Those steely lavender-gray eyes fixed on Keller. split me.Keller told every(prenominal)thing. As she did, Grandma Harmans face seemed to get older and older, sinking into haggard lines of give care and sadness. But all she said at the e nd was, I see. Well keep back off to try to find out how they got him, and what just his powers are. I dont think theres anybody alive today whos an expert on-those creatures.They called him Azhdeha.Hmm-sounds Persian.It is, Galen said. Its one of the old name calling for the constellation Draco. It means man-eating serpentKeller looked at him in surprise. He had been sitting quietly all this time, listening without interrupting. at present he was slant forward, his gold-green eyes intense.The shapeshifters have some old scrolls about dragons. I think you should invite for them. They might give some estimate about what powers they have and how to fight them. I saw the scrolls once, but I didnt really study them I dont think anybody has.Hed seen the old-fashioned scrolls? Then he was a shapeshifter, afterwards all. But why hadnt she been able to good smell an animal form for him?Galen- Keller began, but Grandma Harman was speaking.Its a good idea. When I get them, Ill send copies to you and Keller. Hes one of your people, after all, and you may be able to help gens out how to fight him.Keller precious to say indignantly that he wasnt any union to her, but of course it wasnt true. The dragons had rule the shapeshifters, once. Their pitch excuse ran in the First abode, the Drache family that ruled the shapeshifters today. Whatever that monster was, he was one of her people.So its decided. Keller, you and your team will suffer Iliana home. Ill go back to Circle Daybreak and try to find out more about dragons. Unless She looked at Iliana. Unless this discussion has changed your mind.Iliana, unbelievably, was salvage prattling, having a conversation about presents with nothing in particular. It was clear that her mind hadnt changed. What wasnt clear to Keller was whether she had a mind.But Keller had other things to annoyance about. Tm sorry-but youre not serious, are you? somewhat taking her home? Perfectly serious,* Grandma Harman said. But we cantWe can, and we have to. You three girls will be her bodyguards-and her friends. Im hoping that you can persuade her to accept her responsibility by Saturday night at midnight, when the shapeshifters and the witches convene. But if not Grandma Harman arched her head slightly, leaning on her cane. She was looking at Iliana. If not, she said in a barely audible voice, youll just have to cheer her for as long as you can.Keller was choking. 1 dont see how we can nourish her at all. With all respect, maam, its an insane idea. They have to know where her house is by now. Even if we stick beside her twenty- foursome hours a day-and I dont see how we can unconstipated do that, with her family around-The white head came up, and there was even a faint curve to the old womans lips. Illtake care of that.Ill have a talk with her mother-young Anna, Elspeths granddaughter.Ill introduce myself and explain that her daughters long-lost cousins have come to visit for Christmas.And undoubtedly do something witchy to Annas mind, Keller thought Yeah, after that theyd be accepted, although no(prenominal) of them looked a bit like Ilianas cousins.And then I will put up wards around that house. There was a flash like silver lightning in Grandma Harmans eyes as she said it Wards thatwill confirm against anything from the outside. As long as nobody inside disturbs them, youll be safe. She cocked an eyebrow at Keller. Satisfied?Im sorry-no. Its still too dangerous.Then what would you suggest we do? kidnap her, Keller said instantly. She could hear Iliana stop verbalise in the background she wasnt gaining any pyxie points there. She bulldozed on grimly. Look, Im just a grunt I obey orders. But I think that shes too important for us to just let her run around loose where they might get hold of her. I think we should take her to a Circle Daybreak enclave like the ones where the other Wild Powers are.Where we can protect her from the enemy.Grandma Harman looked her in the eye. I f we do that, she said mildly, then we are the enemy.There was a pause. Keller said, With all respect, maam-I dont want your respect. I want your obedience. The leaders of Circle Daybreak huffye a firm decision when this total thing started. If we cant convince a Wild Power by reasoning, we will not resort to force. So your orders are to take your team and stay with this child and protect her as long as you can. rationalise me. It was Galen. The others had been sitting and watching silently. Nissa and Winnie were too brilliant to get involved in an switch like this, but Keller could see that they were two unhappy.What is it? Grandma Harman asked.If you dont mind, Id like to go with them. I could be another cousin. It would make four of us to watch over her-better odds.Keller thought she might have an apoplexy.She was so mad, she couldnt even get words out spell she was choking uselessly, Galen was going on.His face still looked pale and strained, like a young soldier coming b ack from battle, but his dark gold hair was shining, and his eyes were steady. His whole attitude was one of hot pleading.Tm not a fighter, but maybe I can learn. afterwards all, thats what were asking Iliana to do, isnt it? Can we ask anything of her that were not ready to do ourselves?Grandma Harman, who had been frowning, now looked him up and down appraisingly. You have a fine young mind, she said. Like your fathers. He and your mother were both strong warriors, as well.Galens eyes darkened. Td hoped I wouldnt have to be one. But it looks like we cant always choose.Keller didnt know what they were talking about or why the Crone of all the Witches knew the parents of this guy shed met in a mall. But shed finally gotten the obstacle out of her throat.No way she said explosively. She was on her feet now, too, black hair riotous as she looked from Grandma Harman to Galen. I mean it. There is no way I am taking this boy back with us. And you may be the leader of the witches, maam , but, no offense intended, I dont think you have the authority to make me. Id have to hear it from the leadersof Circle Daybreak themselves, from Thierry Descouedres or Lady Hannah. Or from the First menage of the shapeshifters.Grandma Harman gave an odd snort. Keller ignored it. Its not just that hes not a fighter. Hes not involved in this. He doesnt have any part in it.Grandma Harman looked at Galen, not entirely approvingly. It seems youve been memory secrets. Are you going to tell her, or shall I?I- Galen turned from her to Keller. Listen. Im sorry-I should have mentioned it before. His eyes were embarrassed and apologetic. It just-there just didnt seem to be a right time. He winced. I wasnt in that mall today accidentally. I came by to look for Iliana. I wanted to see her, maybe get to know her a little.Keller stared at him, not breathing. wherefore?Because He winced again. Im Galen Drache of the First House of the shapeshifters, Keller blinked darn the elbow room revolved briefly.I should have known. I should have realized. Thats why he seemed like a shapeshifter, but I couldnt get any animal sense from him.Children of the First House werent born attached to any particular animal. They had power over all animals, and they were allowed to choose when they became adults which one they would shift into.It also explained how hed known which pressure points to use to get her off the dragon. And his telepathy-children of the First House could connect to any animal mind.When the room settled back into place, Keller realized that she was still standing there, and Galen was still looking at her. His eyes were almost beseeching.I should have explained, he said.Well, of course, it was your choice, Keller said stiffly. There was an ridiculous amount of blood in her cheeks she could intent it burning. She went on, And, naturally, Im sorry if anything Ive said has disposed offense.Keller, beguile dont be formal.Lets see, I havent greeted you properly, or give n you my obedience. Keller took his hand, which was well made, long-fingered, and cold. She brought it to her forehead. Welcome, Drache, son of the First House of the shapeshifters. Im yours to command, naturally.There was a silence. Keller dropped Galens hand. Galen looked miserable.Youre really mad now, arent you? he observed.1 wish you every happiness with your new bride, Keller said by means of her teeth.She couldnt figure out exactly why she was so mad. Sure, shed been made a gather in of, and now she was going to have to take responsibility for an untrained boy who couldnt even shapeshift into a mouse. But it was more than that.Hes going to marry that whiny little flower in the corner, a voice in Kellers head whispered. He has to marry her, or at least go through a promise ceremony thats just as binding as marriage. If he doesnt, the shapeshifters will never join with the witches. Theyve said so, and theyll never back down. And if they dont join with the witches . .. everyt hing youve ever worked for is finished.And your job is to persuade the flower to do her duty, the voice continued brightly. That means youve got to convince her to marry him. Instead of eating her.Kellers sense of humor flared. I dont want to eat her, she snapped back at the voice. And I dont care who this idiot marries. Its none of my business.She realized that the room was still silent, and everyone was watching Iliana and Galen. Iliana had stopped prattling. She was looking at Galen with huge violet eyes. He was looking back, strained and serious.Then he turned to Keller again. Id still like to help, if youll let me come.I told you, Im yours to command, Keller said shortly. Its your decision. Id like to mention that it just makes things a little harder on my team. Now were going to have to look out for you as well as her. Because, you see, youre not expendable after all.I dont want you to look out for me, he said soberly. Im not important.Keller wanted to say, Dont be an idiot. No you, no promise ceremony, no treaty. Its as simple as that. Weve got to protect you. But shed already said more than enough.Toby was retrieving the tape from the VCR. Grandma Harman was making getting-ready-to-rise motions with her cane. I think weve stayed here long enough, she said to Keller.Keller nodded stiffly. Would you like to come inthe limousine? Or would you rather follow us to her house?Grandma Harman opened her peach to answer, but she never got the chance. Kellers ears caught the sound of front outside just before the aliveness room window shattered.